Diamond Lakes Park: A vision for south Augusta’s future

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The improvement project at Diamond Lakes Park is beginning to take shape.

Parks and Recreation says they are scheduled to start bench installations at the walking track within the next two weeks.

After that, crews are set to begin work on sidewalks. The final phase of the project will be the speed bumps.

Diamond Lakes Park is more than land; it’s a symbol of community, growth, and hope.

“I want to make sure she sees all the young kids out here,” said Frank Howard.

Family, faith and future come together here, and now, there is a vision to bring even more life.

“With all the kids around, you see this? That’s life,” he said.

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Back in May, Howard gathered more than 1,700 signatures, urging city leaders for change.

“It’s not about me. It’s not about Frank Howard, but it’s about the people of South Augusta,” he said in May.

By June, his plan took one more step toward becoming reality with city leaders approving $491,000 in the improvements he advocated for .

“A long time coming for this,” he said in June.

Both Howard and local leaders are asking the same question: How soon will these changes be completed?

“All we need is for the people to come and join us. How about that?” Howard said.

Commissioner Tanya Barnhill-Turnley represents District 4.

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She said, “I wanna see what the plan is. How soon are we completing some of the things? I’m sure some of those things are easier done than others. I know, sidewalks, you gotta do the framing and you gotta take the dirt out and all those kinds of things. But some other things are a little bit simpler. I want to find out what the status of those things is.”

Howard says the transformation is just beginning.

“It was passion work because I enjoyed it. I talked to so many people who really love South Augusta. They have hope. Yeah. Hope for this being more than what it is now.”

And that hope is just getting started.

Parks and Recreation agreed to work with Howard to gather a group of volunteers to clean the park. Officials are expected to give monthly updates on the project’s progress moving forward.